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Exercise 211Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Differentiation › Mean Value TheoremL1Added 2 Nov 2026

Rolle's theorem on a quartic

#Rolle's theorem#polynomials

Statement

Let P(x)=3x4−11x3+12x2−4x+2P(x)=3x^4-11x^3+12x^2-4x+2. Show that P′P' vanishes at least once in (0,1)(0,1).

Hint

Compute P(0)P(0) and P(1)P(1).

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Solution

We have P(0)=2P(0)=2 and P(1)=3−11+12−4+2=2P(1)=3-11+12-4+2=2. So P(0)=P(1)P(0)=P(1).

PP is a polynomial, hence continuous on [0,1][0,1] and differentiable on (0,1)(0,1). By Rolle's theorem there exists c∈(0,1)c\in(0,1) with P′(c)=0P'(c)=0.

Remark. We found the existence of a root of P′P' without being able to compute it: P′(x)=12x3−33x2+24x−4P'(x)=12x^3-33x^2+24x-4 is a cubic with no pleasant root. Rolle's theorem is an *existence* theorem.